more

let me fill in a few gaps from my last entry-
July 28: Went to teach at one of the care points, where the orphans are feed
at least one meal a day and taught the basics. School fees for the year are
E2000 or $400 Canadian, and these children cannot afford to go. I had no
idea what to expect. When I arrived there was about 20, four to six year
olds. Teaching went okay, but then the interpreter left and I had over an
hour before my ride came. I sang a few songs with them, but wasn't able to
even play "duck, duck, goose" because I had no way of explaining to them. I
ended up just giving them crayons and paper so they could draw, but after a
while I had all of them crowding around me speaking in siSwati. It was
overwhelming and I came back mentally and physically exhausted. It is so
easy for me to work with children who speak English because I know songs and
games, the riddles in stories like Dr. Seuss's ABCs make them laugh. I had
one book with me that I read to them but I had to simplify it for them. How
does one communicate tongue twisters like "Many mumbling mice are making
midnight music in the moonight... mighty nice," or explain what an imaginary
creature called a "Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz" is?
July 29: Went to town using public transport for the first time. Waited
about half an hour for a ride both on the way in and at the bus rink to get
back 'home.' We ate at KFC, the only Western Fast Food, and they have the
most delicious ice cream. Its soft serve, but the vanilla flavoring is more
noticeable. A small cone costs E1.50, which is about 25 cents. A sundae is
E5.90 or a dollar. I got to see Laura Buchanan, a friend that I worked with
at Circle Square Ranch. She was here with her sister and a friend, all from
Quebec, to work at an orphanage for the month of July.
Aug 4: Teaching went much better this Thursday, although the language
barrier is still difficult. I took some simple books to read, but the
teacher still had to interpret them as the children were not understanding.
The children like to repeat everything you say. I am almost wanting to
write my own simple stories they can understand, but I still don't have an
understanding of African culture great enough to do so.

The other morning I woke up with God whispering in my ear, read Hosea 6:3.
His still small voice is speaking today. You only have to be listening to
it. The verse reads as follows: "Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us
press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival
of the dawn or the coming of the rains in early spring." (Hosea 6:3, NLT).
My prayer is that if you know God that you would press on to know him more-
and if you don't that you would pray, "God reveal yourself to me." If you
seek him with all your heart, God says, "I will be found by you" (Jeremiah
29:14, NLT). Talk to God, he is always listening. If you have any
questions, don't hesitate to email me at heidimaria@hotmail.com I may be
halfway around the world, but I am praying for you. Jesus loves you and so
do I.

The days are starting to get longer, its still light out after six. That
must sound weird for those who are in the middle of summer. And talk about
hot, today I had to stay inside in the afternoon, at 9:30 when I took a walk
it was hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk, or should I say tin roof as
there are no side walks in the country where I am.